2024 Proton S70 1.5T Premium Review

The selection in the Malaysian C-segment sedan market has grown recently, but for most family users, "balance without compromise" remains the core demand—spacious enough, practical features, smooth power delivery, and pricing within budget. The 2024 Proton S70 1.5T Premium aims precisely at this need. As the mid-range variant of the series, it fully equips essentials like six airbags, LED lighting, and automatic air conditioning, and even adds keyless entry. This time, we got the actual car to see if it can truly meet all the daily family needs beyond just the "value for money" label.

Starting with the exterior, it follows a steady and elegant design route without overly aggressive lines. The front features Proton's family-style shield-shaped grille with an internal honeycomb design, paired with sharp LED headlights on both sides, giving it high recognizability. The side profile has smooth lines extending from the front fender to the rear, with subtle character lines that add a sense of muscularity. The bottom of the doors also features a concave shape, making the car appear more elongated visually. The rear design is relatively simple, with LED taillights connected by a chrome strip running across, exhibiting a clear effect when lit. The black trim under the rear bumper and the twin exhaust decorations on either side prevent the rear from looking monotonous. The 16-inch multi-spoke rims paired with 205/55 R16 tires are adequate for daily commuting.

Sitting inside the car, the interior style leans toward practicality, without any flashy designs. The dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials, which feel reasonably delicate. Silver trim around the air vents and the central touchscreen adds a touch of refinement. The multifunction steering wheel has controls for audio and phone on the left and cruise control on the right, making it very user-friendly. The instrument panel uses backlit analogue dials to clearly display information like RPM, speed, and fuel level. While it's not fully digital, it offers excellent clarity and directness. The standard 8-inch touchscreen responds relatively smoothly, supports Bluetooth connectivity, and music playback, but lacks extensive functionality, making it suitable for users with modest smart system requirements.

Space performance is a key factor for family cars. The S70 offers a 2627mm wheelbase. After adjusting the front seat to a suitable position, rear passengers have around two fists of legroom. A passenger with a height of 175cm won't feel cramped sitting in the back. The rear floor hump is not very high, so long rides for the middle passenger won't be too uncomfortable. The rear seats can be folded in a 60:40 split, which can extend the trunk space and accommodate long items such as strollers or suitcases without any problems. In terms of storage, the door pockets can hold two bottles of water, there's a hidden storage box under the center console, and the front cup holders are spacious enough. Everyday small items can be easily accommodated.

Driving-wise, the 1.5T turbocharged engine delivers a maximum power of 110kW and a maximum torque of 226N·m, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The acceleration is not particularly aggressive, but when you press the gas pedal deeper and the RPM surpasses 1750, the torque kicks in, giving you confidence during overtaking. For city commuting, the normal mode suffices. Gear shifting is quite smooth, with only slight hesitation at low speeds, which does not affect daily driving. On the highway at 120km/h, the engine operates at around 2500rpm. Noise levels are well-controlled, with wind and tire noise being relatively minimal, ensuring passengers in the rear don't have to raise their voices to have a conversation.

The steering wheel feels relatively light, making daily parking and U-turns very easy. It becomes slightly heavier at higher speeds, providing better stability while driving. The suspension is a combination of front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beams, tuned for comfort. It absorbs most of the bumps when driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, without delivering overly harsh impacts. When cornering, the body roll is not particularly significant, and the support is adequate for daily family use. The brake pedal feel is quite linear, offering precise control based on the amount of pressure applied. The braking force is evenly distributed, providing confidence for city driving or emergency braking.

In terms of fuel consumption, we drove about 100km in the city, where traffic was quite congested, and the average fuel consumption was about 7.5L/100km. On the highway, after driving 50km, the average fuel consumption was around 5.8L/100km. It uses RON 95 petrol, and this performance is considered average for a family car—it’s not extremely fuel-efficient but not too fuel-consuming either.

The noise insulation is reasonably well done. At low speeds in the city, engine noise is almost inaudible. On highways, the main noise comes from wind, while road noise is well controlled thanks to the comfort-oriented tires. The seats are manually adjustable, with height adjustment available for the driver’s seat. The support and wrapping of the seats are satisfactory, making long drives not too tiring. There are rear air conditioning vents, which ensure rear passengers don’t feel too hot in summer—something very practical for families.

In conclusion, the main advantage of the 2024 Proton S70 1.5T Premium lies in its "balance"—it has ample space, practical features, smooth performance, and is priced at just RM 79,800. Compared to competitors in the same class like the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla Altis, it doesn’t lose out on features but offers a more competitive price. It’s suitable for those who value cost-effectiveness and need a versatile family car that can handle everything, such as small families or young couples who’ve just gotten married. It’s perfect for daily commutes or weekend family outings. If you don’t have high demands for smart systems and prioritize space and practical features, the S70 1.5T Premium is worth considering.